Whitehead is quite good at drawing you into his character's situations. His historical fiction describes the lives of Black characters in the U.S., from the enslaved characters in Underground Railroad to the reform-school menagerie of The Nickle Boys, to the life of Ray Carney, 1960s furniture salesman and part-time crook, in Harlem Shuffle. Starting the story is a bit of an investment--a legit furniture salesman is not the most promising dramatic focus--but that investment pays off. Carney is a character you want to meet and understand, and you'll want to follow him to the soon-to-be-released sequel, Crook Manifesto.